Chapter Text
The hell dimension, as Rogue had dubbed it, was not a pleasant place to live in.
Well, “live” might be too generous a word.
He still exists, that’s for certain, but live?
In this fiery landscape that seems to be getting more and more unstable the longer he stays there… no. This was no life.
But with no way out, what could one do but simply exist?
Until one day, everything suddenly changes.
Out of nowhere, Rogue gets a vision of this woman in his mind.
He’d think he’s going crazy, but… she talks to him.
“Hello?” she says, blue eyes filled with concern. “Please, I don’t have much time. You have to help Grandfather.”
“…Grandfather?”
“The Doctor,” she replies, the name echoing clear in his mind.
Despite barely knowing the situation, despite barely knowing this woman, Rogue’s immediate reply is, “Of course I’ll help.”
She sighs deeply, uttering a genuine “Thank you. The world is in danger, and Grandfather can save it. The only trouble is, he’s forgotten himself. I can’t get through to him, but I think you might be able to.”
“What? How?”
She smiles. “Quite like how I’m appearing to you, I could project your image and voice elsewhere. We’d only have one shot at it, though.”
“What would I even say? ‘Remember me, Doctor? I proposed to you, does that jog your memories?’”
“No,” she responds, gravely serious. “You must tell him about the tables. They shouldn’t behave how they do… it might clue him into the fact that he’s in a false reality.”
“Tables that do what they shouldn’t? Okay…”
“That’s all, really. Make sure to hammer the message into his head. Along with anything familiar about yourself, I suppose.”
“About that… how do you even know who I am? I sure don’t know the first thing about you.”
Her eyes twinkle mischievously (so very much like the Doctor’s would) as she responds, “I haven’t the time to explain that. I’m sorry that my abilities are limited to psychic, or I would’ve gotten you out of this horrid place,” she grimaces. “I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Susan.”
“Susan… you really are his granddaughter, huh?”
“The one and only,” she nods. “Now, we must do this right away. No more time for chatting, I’m afraid.”
And so that’s how Rogue ends up seeing the Doctor again.
And it might be the worst thing in the world, actually.
The Doctor’s married, with a wife and child, meanwhile Rogue’s world is literally burning and crumbling to pieces, and something sounds as if it’s nearing in on his location.
It hurts to see the Doctor so… normal.
The spark in his eyes isn’t there.
But there’s no time to gawk at that sad, sad, gorgeous face.
Rogue needs to help remind the Doctor of who he is - get him to regain the spark that is dearly missed.
“Doctor? Doctor, can you hear me?” The Doctor does glance up at the screen, which is a good start.
“I haven’t got much time. They’re coming. And this hell dimension is sliding into the pit. I don’t know if I’m gonna survive. Thank you for that, you know.”
Rogue swears there’s a glimmer of the Doctor in those eyes now, and has hope that maybe, just maybe, this’ll work.
“But I have to warn you. I can only send you one warning, and this is gonna sound strange, but listen to me.”
The Doctor steps closer, intently hanging onto Rogue’s every word now.
“Tables don’t do that. Remember, tables don’t do that.”
Message delivered. Now he could only hope it would be enough.
There’s a rustling sound behind him, and the heat’s beginning to become unbearable.
“I gotta go. I miss you,” Rogue utters.
He may be just about to die though, and his heart is aching. There’s every chance the Doctor won’t remember him, and won’t go on to save the universe, but…
He’s already had his regrets about not saying these words once before. Would be stupid to make the same mistake twice.
“Well, more than that, I love you.”
I love you…
He may burn up into nothingness, or be torn to pieces, or any number of unimaginably awful fates soon…
But Rogue will die happily, with the knowledge that the one he loves knows how he feels.